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Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Pensions and youth employment: EESC seeks a delicate balance

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From: PressEESC <press@eesc.europa.eu>

Sender: Paesmans Valerie <Valerie.Paesmans@eesc.europa.eu>

Date: Fri, 13 Jul 2012 14:23:21 +0000

Subject: Pensions and youth employment: EESC seeks a delicate balance

PRESS RELEASE

No 49/2012

13 July 2012

Pensions and youth employment:

EESC seeks a delicate balance

On Thursday 12 July, the European Economic and Social Committee adopted two opinions on sensitive topics that are at the heart of the debate across Europe: the future of the pension systems and employment for young people. In both cases, the Committee reached a compromise solution and thus established its position for the future debate on two issues that are so vital to the idea of social Europe.

The EESC opinion on the European Commission's White Paper for adequate, safe and sustainable pensions, drafted by rapporteurPetruDandea (Workers' Group, Romania) together with co-rapporteurKrzysztof Pater (Various' Interests Group, Poland), considers carefully the range of proposals set out in the Commission document on how Member States can reform their pension systems. This is a particularly sensitive issue, and ties in closely with growth and employment policies.

The Committee expresses its concern that many countries are responding to the crisis in pension systems by cutting expenditure on pensions and raising the statutory retirement age. In doing so, they are merely postponing the problem to the near future, while cuts in pension benefits are already exposing many pensioners to poverty. That said, the Committee agrees with the Commission's idea of extending working life and feels action is needed to remove the obstacles facing those who want to keep working beyond the legal retirement age.

The EESC also deplores the lack of attention given to public pension systems, which need to be strengthened as an important component of the social security net. It recognises the role played by complementary private retirement schemes, provided that they are guaranteed and protected, both against speculation and against the mismanagement of savings. Finally, it recommends that standards on minimum pensions or pension income protection mechanisms be included in future legislation to protect pensioners and avoid major social problems.

In the second opinion, drafted by Mr Tomasz Jasiński (Workers' Group, Poland), the EESC welcomes the Commission's Youth Opportunities Initiative and expresses its willingness to play a part in promoting and implementing it.The Committee notes however that the EU's austerity policy and the lack of a clear and generally recognised growth policy could jeopardise the success of this new proposal, making it vital to put in place an appropriate economic and financial environment. The creation of new, high-quality jobs must remain a priority.

The Youth Opportunities initiative - with its focus on young people who are not in employment, education or training - can represent a source of new opportunities but will not create any new jobs without adequate economic and financial support. Hence Mr Jasiński's suggestion that a European Youth Employment Strategy be adopted as part of the 2014-2020 financial perspective in order to ensure the availability of resources for young people under the European Social Fund. Finally the opinion calls on Member States to implement the Youth Guarantee properly, so as to ensure that young people are in a job, education or training within four months of leaving school.

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Ionela Flood

About Me

I was awarded a bursary in cultural management by the Ministry of Culture, Romania, in 1999, studing in Italy, Greece, France and United Kingdom.Being resident in London since 2001, I am currently undertaking PhD research with a bursary from the Ministry of Education of Romania in the area of Project Management while developing projects for Romanians abroad.
I am a Former Director of the Mihai Eminescu Centre in Bucharest, and founded the Magazine Enigmaticul in 1999 and initiated the Mihai Eminescu Festival, The Festival of 3rd Millennium and the Sports Dance Festival.I became President of the Info Manager Association in 2001,Vice President of Liga Culturala a Romanilor in 2004 and Chair of Romanca Society in 2006, promoting the development of management, marketing and networking in Romanian’s socio- cultural activity.The latest projects that I have been involved with are in the area of culture, business and education: A Romanian Musical Adventure in partnership with the Silvestry Foundation, Art and Music Festival with Pro Patrimonio Foundation, Eco Energy Europe Project for Aardvark, QIEI 2008 with ASE and Invitation to Composers with London Schubert Players Trust in 2010.